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Saturday, March 17, 2018

My husband just texted me to ask how my day was going. My reply, "Good. But slow." with a disappointed feeling.

As soon as I hit send I had another thought. Why am I disappointed?? This was exactly the life I intentionally crafted for myself!

I'm sitting here with my dishes done, counters clear, listening to our rescue birds sing brightly, while eating my smoothie bowl and reading the newest edition to Simplify Magazine. This is 100% the life I intended to have 2-3 years ago when I started learning about the benefits of a simpler life.

Monday, March 12, 2018

A last name can mean whatever you want it to mean to you and what I want it to mean to me. Not that it needs explaining but... a last name, to me, means independence. It also means joining. It's public, private and individual. And it's all about intention.When I was married, the first time around, I didn't change anything. A piece of paper didn't change me so I didn't change my name. I was proud to be the same person. Proud of me. And I'm happy I made that decision.The second time I was married it was more complicated. We had a child. I'm a practical person so I decided not to change my last name but to add to it. I didn't want any confusion while my daughter was in school of which child was mine. Haha That was my sole intention... not to have any confusion while my daughter was still a child.

In Canada, the law states, "Assuming a spouse’s name after marriage does not change the name on your birth certificate. However, you can assume your spouse’s name on government documents." This doesn't change your name, legally. I believe it's a person's choice what they do with their name. How they feel about it. I don't see how it's anyone else's business but that individual. It really affects nobody else. I don't care what your name is and I would respectfully call you whatever you want me to call you. Because respect is the right thing to do. It's the loving choice. I have friends who have just switched to their husband's last name on government documents, because they wanted to and some women told me that they didn't know they even had a choice (gasp!! My mother was one of them!). I even have a good friend who changed her entire name (first and middle too) in order to free herself of all negativity of her past (and loves the result!).

I am in full support of anyone who did what made him/her happy!!

I love my names because they are mine. They were given to me and have been with me for the past... um... so many years (LOL) and they will be mine until they aren't. I could also love a name that I make up, with special meaning but I will not change my name, legally, for anyone else.

Belanger wasn't always my last name, though.

I was born in Germany (no I'm not German.. I had two Canadian parents and remember absolutely nothing of Germany) and they (at that time) had a law that a child takes his/her mother's current last name. No matter what. So I had to wait until my parents got back to Canada to have my name changed legally to my father's last name.Upon recent reflection I decided to change all my business pages to my maiden name. My business brand is about me after all, not my family. This also makes things easier for people to tag the right page or message me to the intended way. Others may make a different choice and that's fine with mye, naturally, since it's not my business. My hope is that people know their choices and not just do what feels right for them but also to support others in their choice. Have you heard of another choice that I didn't know about? Please comment below, if you have or connect with me. Many blessings. xx

Friday, March 9, 2018

Food is a hot topic. What fuelled this blog post is frequently hearing that people who are in the food health industry are limiting people's fruit intake. People telling me that I'm eating "too much sugar" when it is fruit I'm eating. "How many bananas? Wow, that's a lot of sugar". Newsflash... fruit is what we were designed to eat!! I'm not professionally trained on food though and I don't have years of experience (YET) in being fruitarian. So lets see some great information on the topic!

Another from NutritionFacts.org is HERE. (Thank you Rebecca for the recommend!)And from plant-powered.com, their common sense diet guide page HERE.

There are two websites that helped me get started on raw

Cronometer (nutrition tracker - also can get in app form) and proteinaholic (helps you gauge what your protein intake should be). Proteinaholic is also a book (kindle / paperback), although I've not yet read it.Speaking of books... if you want to dive right in and become a fruitarian, that's great and I commend you!! That's my eventual goal. But if slow and steady is more your style or if you would rather just stick with generally raw there are recipe books out there.

*Note: This page often contains affiliate links meaning I earn a commission if you use those links (and I thank you for your support!). I only recommend brands/products I use and trust. For more information, see my disclosures HERE.

Lets start with the coaching. I follow a few people and love their individual style....

First, lets start with a fellow Canadian, who I mentioned above. author Melissa (Lissa) Raimondi from Raw Food Romance. She is such an inspiration! So bubbly and positive. She is also a talented photographer so her book photos are beautiful as well as inspirational.Definitely check out her website for before and after photos and her journey. She also does very informative YouTube videos that have inspired me.There are my American follows who coach... Orvel who is a long-time fruitarian and can be found on his public facebook page (which I suggested he start btw, haha 😜 ) He is super busy with his fruit challenges, answering hundreds of questions daily. I haven't braved the challenge yet but someday I hope to! He's also on Instagram, should you want to follow along.Also a beautiful couple, Indica and Phillip from fruitmusclefitness.com have a sweet family and it's amazing to see them both on the same healthy path and including their children. I dream of the day my family becomes fruitarian or even raw and wants to run with me. Here is their YouTube channel. Check out their YT photo... aren't they the sweetest?? I wish all families were even half as interested in their health.

My biggest inspiration

My biggest personal inspiration has been Rebecca Rosenberg. What can I say, besides the girl is nothing short of amazing! Her compassion astounds me. I've never seen her get mad at someone, even when being targeted with anger and stupidity or having relationship changes. Always the picture of compassion.We became facebook friends just before she became a fruitarian. Just before the had major health scare, losing the use of her left side, and was diagnosed with MS. She has been my go-to when I have a raw/fruitarian question and she has always been quick to praise and encourage, even when I fall off the raw wagon. She is curing the incurable with fruit., like a goddess. Other diseases she is curing or has cured are Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism, Benzo withdrawal, cured lifelong hypoglycemia (pre-diabetes) and more and is medication free! And then there is the weight loss... you have to see the before and after photos...After her diagnosis she researched healing diets and found out about the raw food benefits. "Fruitarian was a natural evolution as I went along in my raw journey as I realized that the best healing foods are fruits. I healed so much faster the longer I kept my diet heavily fruit based."She recommends the 80/10/10 Diet to read (kindle / paperback) and Indica Henderson's raw beginners guide (Indica's information is just above under coaching) and also Anne Osborne's book but after checking out the price ($1400 Canadian?!) I sent her a message on how to get it. She sent me the sweetest reply and in the reply said that she a pdf copy, that she sends out to people at no charge! They just need to email her, which I've done, started and love already. YAY! Rebecca is the Texas Fruitarian on facebook and also does YouTube videos.

More Inspiration

Ted Carr was the another HUGE inspiration for me. He's been raw for over 8 years and has hundreds of YouTube videos. I watched them obsessively for years. He is Canadian but a world traveller and also an extreme minimalist so a very interesting guy.

Tanny Raw is one more. On YouTube and more. Her energy is contagious! I'm sure I could go on and on with this list!

I follow way more than the ones just listed above but if you are new to being interested in raw the above list will get you started. There are also way more coaching and people doing YouTube videos. Maybe I'll have to edit this eventually, or maybe even in a couple days, who knows. I just hope that one less person will tell me that fruit sugar is bad and maybe one more person will raise the bar on their health. Please be that person... and spread the word. Sharing this post would mean the world to me. Thank you. #beyourbestself xx

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Problem: People-pleasing.

I hate it. But it seems like there are two options: 1 - don't live your own life, try constantly to please others and inevitably become miserable at your failure. Then blame those around you for your misery.2 - live the happiest life you can imagine. A great role model and inspiration. But here's the catch... you get called selfish and unsupportive (or worse) by those who supposedly love you and should want you to be your best self. Right??Here's where my annoyance kicks in. Adults make their own choices. Whether you choose #1 or #2 there are consequences. I've seen this in sooo many relationships like this. But lets use my parents as examples...My mom blamed me for not being able to leave my father (who she claimed she hated) because she had me to raise, even though I was the one telling her to leave. I wanted her to be her best self and be happy, after all. Since I loved her. Then there was my dad who blamed me for being born, causing his unhappiness, but also wouldn't leave my mother. But if one of them actually did something to make themselves happy the outcome would have been great for the other. Problem solved, right? But neither did anything and they both died mostly miserable at the age of 57.

Why?

A friend and I were talking about people-pleasing recently. It feels like a sickness. Some may want out but not know how. Or maybe they don't know they are doing it because it was how they were raised. Always having to make their family happy. Hell, I know for sure that some people don't even know what makes them happy because they never had the opportunity to figure it out and then adult-hood steps in and they are making a partner happy &/or our kids and bosses. Then, before they know it, it feels like it is too late. Maybe it IS too late for that relationship. Once you decide you want to do some things for YOU the significant other is like... WTH? Who is this person who is finally putting their own needs before my wants?? *Key mystery music here* BUT you have to start somewhere!

Solution

I think the solution is to raise kids to not please our every whim. To figure out how to make themselves happy. To not become what we want them to become because it makes sense, it makes money or it looks good to others. I don't know about you... but I would far prefer seeing a smile on my kid's face rather than a diploma framed in some office somewhere. The solution is to not expect someone else's happiness to take a backseat to your own. It's their life to live as a happy one and to encourage others to find their own happiness. Friends, family, coworkers alike.And the solution is to set a good example. Be an inspiration to others. Especially your kids! Start right now. Be a person that YOU love and you will attract others who love the real you and not what you can do for them. It won't be easy and the selfish will leave... but in the end it will be worth it. Be authentic and transparent. This is what life is about. Live in love. 💙 xx

My daughter... practising being a happy person. For herself. Because her happiness matters.

Life has recently got a lot better. I believe I found the key to happiness. For me, anyway. And it's pretty simple!

First, I decided on my core values. Things that are highly important to me. Things such as honesty, compassion, kindness, joyfulness, self care.

The list keeps growing but as long as I keep alignment with these things I'm pretty happy but then comes step two, which is the mantra, " I am happy with myself. I love myself. I am enough."

Three simple lines. The first, "I am happy with myself" is pretty simple and straight forward as long as I'm aligned with and following my core values.

The second line, "I love myself" might be a little more difficult for some but, again, if you follow your core values what's not to love? And without self love you can't love others, really. So pretty important to work on.

Now, the third line, "I am enough". This is my weak area. I now know I've held pretty high standards for myself.. maybe even impossible. Also, this is where validation from others comes in.

Realistically, I know I don't need others approval but I've been not only seeking it but also judging myself and punishing myself when I didn't get it. Which is pretty sad when I think about what I would feel like if my daughter was holding herself to the same standards. That's not something I want to model for her so I'm stopping with that. Immediately.

The value list helps me to feel more... put together and on track with my life, if that makes sence? And the mantra is the key to to it all. Without the mantra I allow myself to be judged and doubt myself constantly. Without the mantra I set impossible goals and over extend myself.

I don't know if it works for everyone but it certainly works for me. I hope you will try it out and let me know how you feel about it - via comment below or email. xx

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

My husband and I are lucky enough to have our birthdays back to back, so we get to celebrate together each year. This year we went to the movies and brought our daughter and a friend. I hope we can make it a regular 'thing' because it was pretty special. **insert my face with heart eyes**

Ready to go!

Our kid is SOOO happy... her BFF beside her, snacks and a great movie

We took the kids shopping at the dollar store after the movie and the biggest kid seemed to have the most fun. HAHA!!!

I finally finished the upcycle t-shirt to dress I've been working on. Well, I've been wearing it for a while but keep adding to it. I added an embroidered flower and just yesterday a button inside the flower. I think I'm done. Anyway, I'm wearing it again to try to inspire creativity for Value Village shopping. And love it, of course. It was so lame as a men's t-shirt. I can't believe anyone actually wore it. Haha.. ;-)

I recently read an article where the author was told to introduce himself as being an expert in whatever he was doing. He was at a conference with others doing the same. It wasn't the point of the article but it got me thinking... my expertise jumped right out at me.

Peace. I'm an expert in peace. Besides having certification in yoga, mediation, reiki and taking courses on various things, such as, essential oils and reflexology I've been studying peace my whole life.

Most of the time spent with my parents there was a lack of peace and most of the time spent outdoors there was total peace (as I write this it's -26C outside, no peace there. Haha) as well as time spent doing reiki, yoga etc. I've spent most of my life trying to achieve peace at the same time adding so much to my plate that I couldn't hang on to peace.

I see it like the mechanic who drives an old beater or the carpeter who's home is never complete. Perfection isn't the goal. The journey is where it's at.

If you aren't sure what your expertise is yet just take a look at your friends. I have a friend I would go to for art advice. Others for sewing advice. My child is an expert in fun.

I have another friend who is an expert in compassion and dysfunction. I'm not saying SHE is dysfunctional (she is the sweetest, most compassionate person I ever met) but her past makes her the perfect person for me to go to when I want to understand why some people behave the way they do and to feel more compassionately towards them. Aren't I blessed to have her as a friend??

Maybe there is something, in your past, you are proud of or maybe there is something you aren't proud of. Either way, you could be an expert in it. You don't have to be perfect or perfect at that one thing. There is no reason to feel guilt or shame, you could help someone feel better about their current situation and there is much pride in that. How great is it to assist someone in living their best life?!

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

I loved this area when I first did it but after a while it just looked cluttered and junky.

So... time for an update!Something I dislike is items packed away for 'good'. I don't see the point of keeping something you never see or experience joy from. It certainly doesn't spark joy from the minimalist in me!I had this family heirloom (for gravy??) passed down from my grandmother to mom to me but haven't ever seen it NOT in a cupboard!!

Well no more of that. I will admit that I have no interest in taking big chances of it getting broken but also a huge interest in it being decorative and useful.

Is there anything YOU have found a new use for? If so, please leave a comment. I'm always looking for multi-purpose ideas. Thanks for reading!

First & foremost a mom, wife, home manager and vegan. Kim is also the author of, "Prenatal Yoga: For Body, Mind and Spirit", a 500-hour certified yogi, certified meditation facilitator, barefoot/minimalist runner, reiki master and business owner.

Kim has been studying holistic health pretty much her whole life. Herbal classes and Therapeutic Touch led to her becoming a Reiki Master and acquiring a 500-hour certification in Yoga (Retired after 7 years of teaching) and then also a certification in meditation. Kim sells natural and spiritual products to aid in meditation and her artistic work.

She and her family became vegan March 2014 and she now offer assistance in getting started with a more compassionate and mindful way of living.

Her yoga eBook was published to Amazon Kindle in 2015.

Check out the wellness on her website, her creative works for sale and her inspiring blog posts..